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With 2017 coming to a close, take a look back at some of the year's most impactful moments in corrections.

As 2018 approaches, can corrections find a way to regroup and move forward in a positive direction? Opinions are mixed, but one thing remains constant: Change is needed.

Here is a wish list of changes CorrectionsOne columnists and contributors hope to see in 2018:

1. Increase resources

For retired prison Security Major Wayne Sanderson, if changes are not made, more deaths, injuries, riots and escapes will occur: “Prisons cannot run shorthanded and at, or barely above, minimum wage, and operate safely and securely.”

2. Acquire peace officer status

“The right way forward in corrections will rely on three things: Status, training and equipment. All corrections officers need peace officer status and training commensurate with such status, along with the appropriate safety equipment and weaponry to get the job done,” said Hamilton. “Too many departments have been remiss in these areas for too long and it is high time to rectify such faults.”

Rev. Dr. Deril Stubenrod, a national first responder chaplain, agrees: “If correctional officers are formally recognized as law enforcement professionals, they will finally get a lot of the missing assets to do their jobs safely.”

3. Improve training

Gary Cornelius, author and retired lieutenant at Fairfax County Sheriff’s Department, believes we must provide training in areas like special needs inmates, civil rights and inmate manipulation.

“First, we need training in how to handle the special needs of inmates such as those who are mentally ill and suicidal, and the elderly,” said Cornelius. “Second, instead of reacting emotionally to civil rights cases, COs must learn to keep stress under control. This includes new directions in our use of isolation. Finally we read too much about staff being manipulated, including sexually. When will we as a profession have that under control?”

4. Equip COs

When it comes to equipment, Dave Bohl, former correctional officer from the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Department, is quick to remind us how technology can assist correctional officers with their duties.

“In 2018, I see technology and corrections moving forward together,” said Bohl. “Technology will be made affordable for correctional facilities and local, state and federal budget managers must take advantage of this. This will help make facilities safe and secure. Management must equip their officers with the necessary equipment to defend themselves such as less lethal force options and stab- and slash-resistant vests.”

5. Address overcrowding

Curtis Isele, a special agent for the Kansas Department of Corrections, sees two major issues that may travel into 2018.

“Overcrowding – combating the problematical existence of mass incarceration – and offender rights – individual rights may be overshadowing safety and security. The pendulum has shifted in such a way that offenders are being favored. It is my opinion that the restoration of justice depends on holding offenders accountable! Punitive countermeasures for law violators can coexist with positive reinforcement for those who act in an acceptable manner.”

Isele further states, “Individual freedoms, while a hallmark of this nation, also are afflicting prisons with more contraband, covert conversations and offenders believing they don’t need to follow rules.

He believes that more outreach from the community is needed. “We need to reach kids to believe they don’t have to be incarcerated. We need society to understand our function and help with our cause,” said Isele.

Conclusion

All are in agreement that the corrections profession has some serious issues to address in 2018. Concerns have been brought to the table in 2017 and are still waiting to be addressed in a consistent manner.

The corrections field is evolving and, with that evolution, there is a need for balance between safety and security and inmate rehabilitation. In 2018, we hope to find that balance and ensure every facility is invested in both the interests of staff and inmates alike.

About the author

For over 15 years, Anthony Gangi has worked in the correctional setting dealing with both male and female
offenders. He served on the custody level and has moved through the ranks from line officer to supervisor. With a background in Psychology, he has become a leading expert in inmate manipulation and, during his time as an instructor, he has had the chance to meet, on a national level, with other professionals in his field.

He is currently the host of Tier Talk which can be found at www.spreaker.com, or subscribe to his YouTube channel. Tier Talk now appears on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network every Thursday at 10:30am EST. Tier Talk is the only show on the air for corrections, by corrections, about corrections.

He is also the author of "Correctional Manipulation," which is available on Amazon, and has appeared on many major networks, including AC 360, Out Front with Erin Burnett, Politic Nation with Al Sharpton, Fox and Friends and LifeTime, promoting the field of corrections.

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